The Rise of the AI Power User: Why They Are Important To Your Future Success

G2’s Tim Sanders offers commentary on the rise of the AI power user and why they are important to your future success. This article originally appeared in Insight Jam, an enterprise IT community that enables human conversation on AI.

AI now stands for “always included.” Today’s buyers care more than ever about being on the cutting edge of technology.  

According to G2’s 2025 Buyer Behavior Report, 50 percent of enterprise software buyers switched vendors last year in pursuit of better AI capabilities. And more than 60 percent now prefer AI-native platforms over building in-house tools. Why? Because speed, usability, and trust matter more than ever—and these platforms deliver.   

But there’s another story embedded in the research, and it’s one that CIOs and IT leaders can’t afford to ignore: the rise of the AI power user. 

Meet the AI Power User

AI power users are those who don’t just dabble with AI—they live in it. They prompt, test, iterate, and ship faster because AI isn’t just a tool to them. It’s an extension of how they think. They combine instinct with inference, operating like a strategic mix of builder and analyst.  

According to our research, these self-reported power users expect AI functionality in their software. They are willing to pay a premium for it and will switch vendors to gain an edge with the most sophisticated AI capabilities.  

Internally, they are driving your company’s success at pacing with the speed of innovation. In your market, they are also a big influence on who buys your software and services. They are mobilizers of change and should be a priority for your attention.  

Why Their Influence Matters to Your Company 

Inside your company, power users possess the hands on knowledge that closes the trust gap between what AI tools can reliably offer and the value your company can gain from them. They aren’t afraid to try the new, give candid feedback to vendors and learn from mistakes.  

Enterprise transformation used to come from the top down. With AI, it’s coming from the middle out. Your AI power users are the connective tissue, translating strategy into execution. Their experimentation doesn’t just help select better tools—it accelerates organizational readiness to adopt them. 

Perhaps most importantly, they act as credible internal advocates. Their influence extends beyond tooling decisions into team culture. When they speak up about an AI solution that’s working, peers listen. Their endorsement carries more weight than a sales deck because it’s rooted in first-hand experience. 

Why You Should Elevate Them 

Much like we did with our Buyer Behavior Report survey, ask all of your team members to identify their level of AI fluency. Some will declare themselves power users, others will see themselves as emerging users, and some may admit to being novices.  

Whether these power users have a technical background or not, it’s important to recognize the energy they bring to AI transformation at your company. Entertain their suggestions in meetings or over channels. Feature their use cases in reports and team meetings. Provide them with resources to amp up their AI fluency.  

The more encouragement they receive, the more time they’ll invest in becoming even more proficient with AI and helpful to implementations. There’s no reason for your company to have an “AI underground” at a time when AI transformation is a top priority.  

Grow Your Power User Population

Go beyond learning and development programs. Training helps people learn more about AI. Daily practice gives them the experience they need to develop trust in the tools, which will lead to mastery.  

That’s why forward-thinking companies are running AI hackathons, internal showcases, and “what I built this week” forums. These aren’t just about driving adoption, they’re about elevating success stories and giving power users a platform. When employees can see what’s possible, they start to believe it’s possible for them too. 

This visibility leads to faster onboarding, stronger retention, and a more consistent understanding of the value AI tools bring. It also signals that leadership is listening—and willing to invest in what’s working at the ground level. 

This Also Changes How You Go to Market

Here’s a stat worth paying attention to: Nine out of ten power users say AI search has changed how they buy software. Over a third start their research journey on ChatGPT or Perplexity instead of Google. They list LLMs as their top resource for creating short lists for software solutions. 

This begs the question: Are you showing up in chatbot recommendations? Today’s B2B sellers need to ensure they show up in multiple places because LLMs seek out a web of consensus when generating their answers. If you hedge your bets on SEO or digital advertising, it’s time to move resources to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).  

Power users at customer and prospect companies should be key targets for your GTM strategy—particularly if your AI features set you apart. They’ll require performance data and expect strong validation signals, but once you win them, your sales cycle speeds up. They might show up in meetings as blockers with tough questions, but that’s because they know what they want. Develop a playbook to find, engage, and arm them to sell on your behalf.  

Final Take: AI Power Users Can Be Your Competitive Advantage

Whether they are your team members or on the other side of the table: AI power users are the bridge between strategy and execution. They close trust gaps. They accelerate learning for everyone around them.